![]() ![]() Commonly conceptualized as providing “stress reduction” techniques, the embodied practices and didactic knowledge contained within MBIs enhance self-awareness and self-regulation ( Vago and Silbersweig, 2012), deepen one’s sense of interconnection and compassion ( Hutcherson et al., 2008 Kang et al., 2014), and encourage exploration and acceptance of challenging emotions ( Thompson and Waltz, 2010 Lindsay and Creswell, 2017) as an alternative to culturally engrained patterns of avoidance and emotional control ( Pogrebin and Poole, 1995 Karaffa and Tochkov, 2013). Recent research suggests mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may help address each of these crises. The fatigue, burnout, and hypervigilance that emerge in the absence of effective emotion regulatory strategies contribute to aggressive and discriminatory policing practices ( Kop et al., 1999 Rajaratnam et al., 2011 Ma et al., 2013 Goff and Rau, 2020), exacerbating distrust and anger toward the police, particularly among communities of color that historically have been disproportionately impacted. Daily exposure to direct and vicarious trauma, chronic organizational stressors, and heightened police-community tension contribute to elevated rates of posttraumatic stress, depression, alcoholism, and suicide in police officers relative to the general public ( Ballenger et al., 2011 Carleton et al., 2017 Violanti et al., 2017a Chopko et al., 2018 Syed et al., 2020). There is a pressing need for evidence-based interventions to address twin crises of police officer mental health and the violent and discriminatory treatment of communities of color and marginalized groups by police. Future research should assess the persistence of these benefits over a longer period while expanding the scope of outcomes to consider the broader community of mindfulness training for police.Ĭlinical Trial Registration: #NCT03488875. ![]() These benefits persisted (or emerged) at 3-month follow-up, suggesting that this training may buffer against the long-term consequences of chronic stress. In summary, an 8-week mindfulness intervention for police officers led to self-reported improvements in distress, mental health, and sleep, and a lower CAR. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no intervention effects on hair cortisol, diurnal cortisol slope, or inflammatory markers. Intervention participants also had a significantly lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) at 3-month follow-up relative to waitlist control. Relative to waitlist control, the mindfulness group had greater improvements in psychological distress, mental health symptoms, and sleep quality post-training, gains that were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Participants were then randomized to an 8-week mindfulness intervention or waitlist control (WLC), and the same assessments were repeated post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. We assessed stress-related physical and mental health symptoms, blood-based inflammatory markers, and hair and salivary cortisol. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 114 police officers from three Midwestern U.S. ![]() Emerging evidence suggests mindfulness training with police may reduce stress and aggression and improve mental health, but there is limited evidence for changes in biological outcomes or the lasting benefits of mindfulness training. Unaddressed occupational stress and trauma contribute to elevated rates of mental illness and suicide in policing, and to violent and aggressive behavior that disproportionately impacts communities of color. 8Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.7Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.6Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.5Academy for Mindfulness, Glendale, WI, United States.4Department of Athletics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.3Just Mindfulness, Madison, WI, United States.2Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States.1Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.Stoller 2 Carmen Alonso 3 Chad McGehee 1,4 Chris Smith 5 Jeanette A.
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